The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-10-20
MODERN OLD MAIDS.
They arc jolly and Good d-Hatured, and
Dress in Exquisite Taste.

According TO tho idea of things which
prevailed not so very long ago, tho wo-
man who did not marry was blighted
being. 1t did not matter whether she
remained single from choice or neces-
sity; for since it was considered wo-
mans only manifest and uualterable
destiny 10 marry, she must of course, be
| regarded rs failure in life # she did
not do this. And though she may have
| rcfu>c forty offers of marriage, or have
had tho most imperative duties of any
sort or developed the most decided tai
cnt Tor some vocation in life other than
marriage yet neither one nor all of these
would have been accepted as valid
| reason why she should not follow what
society had decided was tho only proper
course in life for hor.
From this condition of things thcro
arose i'll literature and minds of the peo-
pic III general the typical "old maid"
She was always pictured as gaunt,
angular, and forbidding in appearances:
moroso and ill-temperod in disposition,
rs became a blightcd and disappointed
being; hating youth and pleasure of all
sorts, with special grudgo against
loycmnking and lovers, since they re-
! mindod her of her own vanished youth
had, or, having. had neglected.
But We have changed all that in these
later days. With tho education of wo-
men ami the broadening of their oppor-
tuniticS i'll every way their destinies have
broudcnod also. A woman is still, per-
haps, expected first to marry, and it is
lest for her that she should, provided
Ter marriage can be q happy and suita-
bic one. But if from hor own choice.
or necessity arising from lack of ap-
probation on the part of the other aud
moro stupid sex, she remains at the end
OF hOr days what someone calls an cum
claimed blessing" she is no longer con-
SidGrCd, from this circumstance alone.
failure and al unhappy creature She
IS no longer doomed 10 life of dcDcn-
dGnte in tho house of another, for a
ScoEo OF vocations arc opon to her. in
any one Of which she may win liveli-
hood or even competence Conseuucnt-
ly she commands respect, and, far from
being subject of contempt or pity, sho
is moro likely thc.object of open or Sc
crct envy on the part Of most of her
married acquaintancos.
And SO it has como about that tho
typical old maid of former times has
pa%SCd away, and in the literature of to-
day We find new types conforming to
tnc n2w facts OF tho case and quite diff
!"rrmt from the old. The modern old
maid is not angular and forbidding in
: appearance, but plump and pleasing.
40 IS not moroso and ill-tempered, but
i'!y and 3ood-naturod TO an extent that
I,INoa her the best of comp .ly. As
sHG has meyer had the absorbing cares
nat como with marriage, and has no
iTmtly of sons and daughters growing
Up about her to remind her of the hight
"i years, she has naturally forgotten to
grow old, and young peoplc regard her
NS one OF themselves when good times
"tu being planned; while in tho matter
ii lovers and love making sho has had
'n"t experience which makes hor simply
"Haluablc as contidante and adviser,
:.'J she is tho repository Of all tho Sc
'"rts Of this sort which exist within the
range OF her acquaintance. She dresses
IL exquisite taste, she pots pug dog or
= white eat, q golden beetle, or what
""or animal fashion may diolnto; is
idp;jzad by her family; cs speolally her
young ncphows; has hosts of admirers,
bat is discretion and proprioty porsoni-
fled; is the guiding spirit in orphan
aSylums, hospitll fairs. associated
charity matters. and other good works,
and. in short, lives out to the end of hor
days happy, useful, well-roundcd ex-
istcuUG.-- uIiWQtLkCC TclC0ruOh